COLUMBUS, OHIO — The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Hardin County, nearly three miles south of Ada, Ohio, early Saturday morning with maximum speeds up to 110 mph.
The tornado ripped through the community just after 3 a.m. and was reportedly on the ground for only four minutes, NWS officials said. Its path stretched 1.6 miles and 260 yards wide, officials said.
“The first sign of tornadic damage was observed at a residence just southwest of the intersection of State Route 309 and 235, where part of the roof was lifted off a barn and multiple softwood trees were snapped and blown in multiple directions,” according to NWS officials.
The tornado then strengthened as it moved northeast, causing more substantial damage at a business and a two-story residence, located on opposite sides of State Route 309, near the intersection with State Route 235.
“At the business, two outbuildings were completely destroyed and part of the roof of another building was lifted off, with debris splatter noted on multiple sides of this building. A metal sign was also damaged, and a tractor-trailer was overturned on its side,” NWS officials said.
The roof was “completely lifted off” a two-story residence and parts of the roof were thrown in multiple directions. Debris from the home was blown at least 0.7 miles in the field to the northeast, officials said.
NWS officials confirmed the tornado Saturday evening after conducting a storm damage survey with the assistance of the Hardin County Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
Hardin County tornado damage (Photo courtesy of Adam Casper)
A tornado with a magnitude of EF-1 is considered a weak tornado with wind speeds of 86-110 mph, NWS officials said.
Hardin County tornado damage (Photo courtesy of Adam Casper)
Severe thunderstorms on Saturday caused damage to several structures in the area, officials said on Twitter and the NWS’s website.
Anyone who has seen any weather-related damage should report it to the NWS at 937-383-0031.
